Pensacola Blue Wahoos Beat Jackson
June 28, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Tony Cingrani struck out a franchise record 15 batters, including 10 of the first 11 hitters he faced, and did not allow a hit until the seventh in a dominating eight inning performance to lead Pensacola to a 5-0 shutout win over the Jackson Generals on Wednesday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory evens the Fish’s record back to an even 38-38 record overall this year, in addition to a 4-3 mark in the second half. Jackson dropped to a 46-31 tally overall in 2012 and 4-3 in the second half.
The Blue Wahoos southpaw set the tone early on by striking out the side in order in the first, hinting at the gem that was to come. Cingrani also fanned the side in the third, in addition to punching out two opposing hitters in each of the second, fourth and sixth innings and was untouchable until the seventh inning when 3B Leury Bonilla ended the 22-year-old’s no-hit bid by lacing a hard single to left. Bonilla later in the frame would be caught attempting to steal second, as Cingrani faced the minimum through seven.
Cingrani (8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 15 SO) improved to 2-1 this year, and ended the night yielding just three hits and two walks in his eight frames, while reliever Curtis Partch (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) came on in relief to toss a scoreless ninth and preserve Pensacola’s seventh shutout win of the season. Generals starting pitcher Forrest Snow (4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 in 2012 after yielding two earned runs on three hits in his 4.2 innings pitched.
Pensacola struck early in the contest, plating a pair of tallies in the first. CF Ryan LaMarre led off with a single and then stole second before he was sent in on LF Josh Fellhauer’s RBI double to right to push ahead 1-0. Fellhauer would then move to third on a base knock by 1B Beau Mills being coming across on DH Yordanys Perez’s sacrifice fly to center to up the margin to two.
The Blue Wahoos would be held in check until the seventh, when the club doubled their advantage with a two-out rally. 2B Miguel Rojas began the scoring spurt with a single and subsequently scored on LaMarre’s triple to left-center, while LaMarre was plated two batters later on a run-scoring single from Fellhauer. A sacrifice fly from C Mark Fleury in the eighth provided the final insurances run of the evening for the Fish.
LaMarre (2-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI) and Fellhauer (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI) each collected a pair of base hits for the Blue Wahoos in the victory, while no Generals hitters tallied a multi-hit effort.
With the series even at 1-1, Pensacola and Jackson are scheduled to meet again Thursday evening, with first pitch set for 7:05 pm at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is slated to take the mound for the Blue Wahoos, while Jackson is expected to send LHP Anthony Fernandez to toe the rubber.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: ony Cingrani struck out a team-record 15 batters in the Fish’s 5-0 win Wednesday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP: Highway 29 Crash May Have Been Alcohol Related
June 27, 2012
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 29 in Ensley Wednesday afternoon that troopers said may have been caused by alcohol.
The accident happened about 12:35 p.m. at Highway 29 and Barber Street, about two blocks south of Walmart.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 17-year old David Hicks of Pensacola was northbound on Highway 29 when his 1999 GMC pickup crossed over the grassy median, went airborne and struck a 2012 Dodge Voyager. The driver of the Dodge, 67-year old James Benson, Jr., of Gulf Breeze was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Hicks was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash may have been alcohol related and charges against Hicks are pending blood test results.
Pictured top: The truck driven by a 17-year in an accident on Highway 29 at Barber Street early Wednesday afternoon. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Final Salute: Funeral Service Held For First Responder Nathan Berry
June 27, 2012
Young first responder Nathan Berry was given a hero’s farewell as he was laid to rest Tuesday. He was 22.
Berry, a certified firefighter and paramedic, dedicated his life to serving the public in emergency services. He was a former employee of Atmore Ambulance and was currently a supervisor for Lifeguard EMS in Santa Rosa County. He was a volunteer member of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department near Flomaton, and was a firefighter for Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Century Station.
Berry was killed in an off-duty traffic accident south of Jay last week.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at the Flomaton High School Auditorium. He received a full first responder’s funeral, with a procession of fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles leading the funeral to the Pleasant Home Cemetery. Along the route, countless first responders and law enforcement officers stood at attention.
The procession entered the cemetery under a giant flag flown between ladder trucks from Century and Pace. A fireman’s bell tolled in his honor as friends and family said goodbye. A LifeFlight helicopter approached the funeral service from the horizon. The front of the helicopter “dipped” and bowed in respect before flying away.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Ladder trucks from Pace and Century fly a giant American flag over the funeral procession for firefighter and paramedic Nathan Berry Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Chief Tommy Wilkerson of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Departments offers a final salute to Berry. Pictured below: Deputies from the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office stand at attention as the funeral procession passes. Aerial photos by Steve Stanton, ground level photos by Katie Fowler for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On Drug Charges After Wrong Way Trip
June 27, 2012
A Century man was arrested on drug charges after driving the wrong way on Ten Mile Road in Pensacola.
Escambia County deputies conducted a traffic stop on Gregory Mark Benauer, 53. He told them that he must have driven in the wrong lane because he was tired and was lighting a cigarette, according to an arrest report.
On Benauer’s person, deputies reporting finding drug paraphernalia, including a syringes, and a pill bottle with Oyxcodone that was not prescribed in his name. Benauer first told deputies that the syringes were used to inject horses, but he later recanted that story and admitted to injecting Oxycodone, the arrest report states.
Benauer was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,000 bond.
Man Claims $1.6 Million Lottery Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
June 27, 2012
An Alabama man has cashed in his $1.6 million Mega Money lottery ticket purchased on Nine Mile Road.
Kenneth Lind, age 69 of Spanish Fort, claimed the prize at Florida Lottery headquarters. Lind chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option for his winnings, in the amount of $1,331,811.03.
The Tom Thumb at 1405 E. Nine Mile Road received a bonus commission of $1,000 for selling the jackpot-winning quick-pick ticket.
Jay Tax Collector Office Cutting Hours
June 27, 2012
The Jay office of the Santa Rosa County Tax Collector’s Office is cutting back days and hours of operation.
Beginning next week, the office will no longer be open five days per week. Effective the week of July 2, the office at 5259 Booker Lane will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The office will be closed all day on Monday and Friday.
Church Youth ‘Converge’ On Pensacola
June 27, 2012
Youth from churches across Escambia County are taking part in Converge — part youth summer camp and part missions project to help the community.
From the North Escambia area, youth groups from Highland Baptist in Molino and Ray’s Chapel in Bogia are taking part in Converge this week. The youth are taking part in building a house with Habitat for Humanity, a beautification project at Warrington Middle School, a food drive for Manna Food Bank, handing out milk and bread in needy neighborhoods, and more.
And while working on the missions projects, the students are also sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to organizers.
Pictured: Converge youth work to build a house with Habitat for Humanity on Wednesday. Submitted Photos by Brad Johnson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment All Stars Win 14U Pony League Championship (With Photo Gallery)
June 27, 2012
The Cantonment All Stars won the 2012 14U Pony League championship Tuesday evening in Lillian, Ala.
Cantonment defeated Tiger Point 7-3 for the title and to remain undefeated in tournament play. Sunday, Cantonment beat Tiger Point 16-6, and beat Perdido 16-4. They opened tournament play last Thursday shutting out Gulf Breeze 22-0.
For a photo gallery from Tuesday’s action, click here.
Pictured: The Cantonment All Stars won the 2012 14U Pony League championship Tuesday evening in Lillian, Ala. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Florida Prison Health Privatization Remains Unresolved
June 27, 2012
With the end of the fiscal year looming and no final action by lawmakers, a circuit judge on Tuesday grappled with how to deal with budget fine print that called for privatizing prison health services.
The Florida Nurses Association and a state employees union filed a lawsuit this year challenging the constitutionality of the Legislature’s decision to use the fine print, known as proviso language, to direct the Department of Corrections to contract with private health companies. But a legislative budget panel also was supposed to give final approval before contracts could be awarded — something it has not done as the proviso language gets ready to expire at the June 30 end of the fiscal year.
That left Leon County Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll, who held a hearing last month on the constitutional issues, pondering Tuesday how he should handle the case.
Jonathan Glogau, an attorney for the state, said the budget fine print becomes moot, meaning “this case goes away.” He said state law gives the Department of Corrections other authority to move forward with privatization of prison health services, anyway, with the panel known as the Legislative Budget Commission ultimately having to sign off.
If that occurred, Glogau said opponents could then launch another legal fight.
“Until then, there’s nothing to challenge,” Glogau said.
But M. Stephen Turner, an attorney for the nurses association, said the department should have to go through a new contracting process if it decides to try to privatize health services — and should not be allowed to use the expiring proviso language as a basis for contracts.
“The agency’s got to go back to the drawing board and start again,” Turner said.
Carroll did not issue a ruling Tuesday and said he will work on the case for the next couple of days. The overall constitutional issues center on whether the Legislature improperly used proviso language, instead of changing state law with a stand-alone bill, to direct the department to carry out privatization.
The hearing also came a day before the 1st District Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear arguments in a broader prison-privatization case. Another Leon County circuit judge rejected privatizing prisons across the southern part of the state because of the Legislature’s use of proviso language to do that as well.
The health-care proviso called for privatization to lead to cost savings of at least 7 percent for the state, compared to 2009-10 expenses. The process led to the department recommending that Corizon, Inc., receive a contract for prisons in North and Central Florida and that Wexford Health Sources receive a contract in South Florida.
Glogau on Tuesday reiterated earlier arguments that the department already has the authority to privatize health services, regardless of the proviso. He said after the hearing that the department has not decided whether it would use that authority to move forward with privatization.
But Tom Brooks, an attorney for the employees union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said the state had played “fast and loose” to try to prevent a ruling on the broader issues in the case — an argument that Glogau disputed.
“We are not playing fast and loose with the rules, and we are not denying anybody their day in court or due process,” Glogau said.
By The News Service of Florida
Photos: A Cartoon Adventure At The Century Branch Library
June 27, 2012
The summer reading program for kids and teens continued Tuesday at the Century Branch Library with cartooning with Mike Artell.
The award-winning cartoonist and illustrator presented plenty of facts and set the kids off drawing their own cartoon adventure.
There will not be a program next Tuesday, July 3. The Summer Reading Series will conclude on Tuesday, July 10 at noon with a program featuring drums with Mark Seymour. Children will explore the world of drums, drum styles and sounds.
The Century Branch Library also offers a preschool story time each Tuesday in June at 10:30 a.m. for children birth to five-years old.
For more information, call the library at (850) 256-6217.
Pictured above and below: Children enjoy cartooning during the Summer Reading Series Tuesday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
